Feature: 
GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook!
Send me your favorite photo and/or story of the dog(s) you adopted from GSRSV, and I will post them on the new GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook page. Mail pictures/stories to Brian Foran at bab43@msn.com. 

The GSRSV dogs are requesting donations of used tennis balls to play with--particularly to fetch in their swimming pond.

Any and all balls will be much appreciated. Please mail donations to: GSRSV, PO Box 652, Pleasant Grove, CA 95668. Or, call 916-655-3125 to arrange for pick-up or delivery.

Special thanks to Jim King, tennis instructor at the Yuba City Racquet & Health Club for providing a large bag of tennis balls in March 2008, and to Daria Ali--a club member--for soliciting the tennis balls and bringing them to GSRSV's facility. 

Los Angeles Strives to Implement a "No-Kill" Policy for Its Animal Shelters

Read this uplifting editorial by Ed Boks, Director of L.A.'s Dept of Animal Services. Wouldn't it be uplifting if Sacramento's shelter administrators (including the SPCA's) and politicians had the will to pursue such a policy--and allocate the $$ to make it a reality?

Older Rescued Dogs Make Wonderful Companions!

Think that an older dog will not make a good family companion because it's set in its ways?" Think again! Older dogs, more so than younger dogs, live to please their caretakers. Furthermore, symptomatic hip dysplasia in older German Shepherds is far less common than believed, and mild dysplasia is readily treatable with supplements. For an excellent information resource on older dogs, see the Senior Dogs Project Website, and their"Top Ten Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog." 

In Memory of Sage
? - August 10, 2004

"Sage" was my #1 dog, the successor to my long-time German Shepherd friend Buddy. I rescued Sage from the Sac City Shelter on September 13, 2002. He was a mature dog (8- 10 yrs old), but healthy and full of life. Originally, Sage was one of many GSRSV dogs up for adoption. However, he quickly won my heart with his devotion and adoring eyes. Soon, Sage was off the Website and in the house, sleeping right next to me.

Sage was a model to break all the myths about adopting an older dog: he bonded immediately with me, was very obedient, and adjusted well to several different boarding situations. There were times when I had to remind myself that Sage did not spend his entire life with me.

It is heartbreaking to lose Sage, but the happiness that dog brought me outweighs the heartbreak by any measure. In Sage's memory, I ask this of all prospective adopters: PLEASE consider adopting an older dog. Old dogs don't stand a chance in the shelters, and rescue groups are hesitant to pull older dogs from the shelters, knowing that they will likely not be able to find them homes. Old dogs are so grateful for the gift of love and a home, you'll never regret adopting one.

So long, Sage. I loved you so much.

Before You Consider Adopting a Dog from a Rescue Group (including ours), Please Consider Adopting One from a Shelter! 

See the page "Dogs Available for Adoption at Sacramento Valley Animal Shelters." Though it never lists more than a fraction of the GSDs in area shelters, it does provide the contact information for many of the shelters.

Though there are certain advantages to adopting a dog from a rescue group, those dogs are safe. Those in shelters are at high risk of euthanasia! If you don't already know, you'd be horrified to learn about the  number of beautiful German Shepherds that are euthanized every week at Sacramento area shelters. 

Please Remember that Most Dogs with Rescue Groups Come from Shelters Themselves!

Take a look at the "slide show" link here, and you'll see what happens to many perfectly adoptable dogs--including German Shepherds--at shelters. Caution! This slide show illustrates a tragic real-life event at a shelter in Atlanta, GA--the same event that takes place everyday in Sacramento-area shelters. The slide show will likely make you very sad--which it should. Please forward the link to anyone you know who might not understand the everyday tragedy at animal shelters nationwide.